Bloody fingertip found in salad at Paso Robles Applebee’s

January 8, 2016

The fingertip alleged to have been found

A cook at the Paso Robles Applebee’s may have put blood, sweat and tears into a salad served to a pregnant Atascadero woman last month. At the least, the cook left a bloody fingertip in the salad, according to a claim filed against the restaurant.

On Dec. 20, Cathleen Martin, her husband and their young child, each ate from a Chinese chicken salad at the Paso Robles Applebee’s. After eating part of the salad, Martin, who is expecting another child in March, noticed the bloody fingertip, according to a press release issued by Santa Ana attorney Eric Traut.

“It was so gross,” Martin stated in the press release. “I’m on pins and needles worrying about what my family might have been exposed to.”

The family notified the restaurant after finding the bloody fingertip in the salad. The restaurant determined the fingertip belonged to one of its cooks, the press release states.

Nine days later, Applebee’s sent a letter saying it would not require the cook to undergo any medical tests, Traut alleges. Traut previously represented a client who found a condom in his French onion soup at a Claim Jumper restaurant.

“I’d like to think diners may go without fear of finding something dangerous, anatomical or biological in their meal,” Traut said.